Summer camps can be expensive (our summer camp guide includes some discount codes!). Our informal study shows that basic camps are about double these “more affordable camps” this year with premium camps coming in much higher. We have found a few gems available at more affordable prices that you should know about. The following East Bay summer camps are offered for less than $275 per week for approximately full-time coverage.
means the camp is free. 
means that the camp is less than $100 per week. Other tips to save money on camps are below (with more programs in the comments!).
Affordable East Bay Summer Camps
ACE Camp (Oakland)
FREE 3-week program to activate love of art and nature. Two sessions. Space is limited.
Ages: 5-14
Fees: None
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Aim High (Oakland, SF, and more)
FREE 5-week program for middle schoolers with limited access to summer enrichment. This program aims to ignite a love of learning. Space is limited.
Grades: 6-9
Fees: None
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Berkeley All-Star Sports Camp (Berkeley)
Berkeley’s new sports camp at Willard Park builds teamwork and sports skills at a good price.
Ages: 7-14
Fees: $250 per week (Berkeley resident) | $300 per week (non-resident)
Register >
Berkeley Fun Camp (Berkeley)
Berkeley’s Classic Day Camp has just barely tipped over the scales at $310 per week (Resident), in which children explore local parks, including Tilden Park, Berkeley Marina, and one area beach. The Fun Camps offered at local playgrounds, and James Kenney and Frances Albrier Recreation Centers are even lower cost.
Ages: 5-12
Fees: $165 per week (Berkeley resident) | $198 per week (non-resident)
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 Black Girls Code (Oakland) – one week only
Alameda County Training & Education Center hosts Black Girls Code Summer Camp. Campers learn about gaming, AI, climate, mental health practices, and workplace skills with industry experts. From June 22-26 only.
Ages: 10-17
Fees: $100 per week
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 California Trails Girl Scout Day Camp (Tilden Park) – one week only
California Trails Berkeley Albany Girl Scout Day Camp includes songs, crafts, and many outdoor activities. From June 15-19 only.
Grades: K-7
Fees: $250 per week for Girl Scouts | $275 for non-scouts | Only $20 per week if you volunteer at camp
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Camp Elmwood (Berkeley) – one week only
An urban adventure camp, Camp Elmwood is a community service program of St. John’s Church in Berkeley. From July 27-31 only.
Ages: 6-13 campers, teen leaders 14-18
Fees: $140 per week + $50 additional for aftercare until 5:30 pm; free for teen leaders.
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 Cantare’s Summer Music Camp (Oakland)
FREE 2-week program is a singing, music, games, and dance camp that includes a trip to a live music performance at the end of camp. Includes t-shirt, snacks, lunch. June 8-18, 2026.
Grades: 4-9
Fees: None
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Julia Burke Debate Institute (Oakland) – one week only
FREE debate camp in Oakland offered by the Bay Area Urban Debate League for middle and high school students. June 8-12, 2026.
Grades: 6-12
Fees: None
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Junior Lifeguard Camp (Alameda, Castro Valley)
Lifeguard lessons and skill-building at the beach. This summer, look for six one-week sessions at Crown Beach and Cull Canyon.
Ages: 5-12
Fees: $235 (Alameda or Contra Costa county resident)
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My Yute Soccer (Oakland) — one week, half day only
FREE half-day soccer camp at Oakland Tech. June 1-5, 2026.
Ages: 7-12 campers; teen leaders 15-17
Fees: None
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Park Explorers (Castro Valley)
Nature camp with extended care available.
Ages: 6-11
Fees: $250 per week (Castro Valley resident) | $260 per week (non-resident)
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Park’n It Day Camp (various EBRPD parks)
Traditional summer day camp program running Monday to Friday from 9 am to 4 pm in various East Bay Regional Parks.
Ages: 5-12 | Leaders in training: 13-17
Fees: $200 (Alameda or Contra Costa county resident) | $220 (non-resident) | 10% discount for second sibling
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Recreation and Team Sports (Berkeley)
RATS is a play-all-day summer day camp where kids of all ability levels are encouraged to participate. 8 am to 5:30.
Grades: 3-8
Fees: $250 per week
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The “Rec” Summer Camp (Emeryville)
Traditional summer camp experience with weekly themes. Includes swimming, field trips, and meals.
Grades: TK-5
Fees: $199 per week (Emeryville resident) | $205 per week (non-resident)
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San Pablo Recreation Summer Day Camp (San Pablo)
That’s a great price with good coverage for working families (sadly, a lot less than last year, but extended care is available)! A combination of indoor and outdoor camp activities with one field trip per week.
Ages: 3-15
Fees: $61-$99 (San Pablo resident) | $76-$124 (non-resident)
Register >
Sunshine Summer Camp (Oakland/Piedmont) — one week only
Camp is run by enthusiastic high schoolers. June 8-12. 8:30 am to 2:30 pm with aftercare available until 5 pm.
Ages: 2-9
Fees: $275 per week or $55 per day.
Register >
Town Experiences Camp + Swim (Oakland)
Experience what Oakland parks offer with swimming lessons, reading, math, games, sports, and discovery. Offered in two 4-week blocks. 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.
Ages: 5-12
Fees: $792 for a 4-week program (about $198 per week) for residents | $950 for non-residents (about $237.50 per week). Look for approximately the same price in different date and location combinations.
Register >
Union City Summer Day Camp (Union City)
A week of day camp with neighborhood parks and field trips keeps it fresh. 8 am to 5 pm.
Ages: 6-11
Fees: $235-$270 (Union City resident) | $260-$295 (non-resident)
Register >
World of Wonder (Alameda)
A week of day camp with neighborhood parks and optional field trips. Snacks included. Hours vary by location.
Grades: TK-4
Fees: $263-$294 (Alameda resident) | $309-$353 (non-resident)
Register >
ps. One more! Just past our price cut-off, find Shoong Summer Chinese Day Camp at just past $286 per week for 7 weeks.
7 Tips to save money on summer camps
Not all of these tips will work for every family or every camp but you might surprise yourself and lop off $100+ with some scheduling flexibility or creativity. Don’t be afraid to ask.
- Find a deal. Our summer camp guide includes dozens of discount codes.
- Scholarships. Ask the summer camp staff for a scholarship or need-based rate.
- Sign up a sib. There are often multiple kid rate discounts for families or friends.
- Bundle. Sign up for more than one week. There are often multi-week discounts available.
- Reduce. If you have the flexibility to shorten your hours or days of care, you can save a chunk of change.
- Think Rec. Local parks and recreation departments offer great deals for residents, especially if you don’t need full-time care.
- Barter. Get creative. Can you make a trade? Do you have a skill that would benefit the camp? Can you prepare snacks or run errands to help the staff in order to defray costs?
Did we miss your favorite lower-cost camp option? Help a family out and share it in the comments!
xxx
3 thoughts on “Most Affordable (Cheap!) East Bay Summer Camps”
Teeny Town (union city) is offering $150 per week Arts & Theater summer camp care for SHORT HALF DAYS (10 am to noon or 1 to 3 pm) for kids aged 3-6. June 23-28
Our kids are 4 & 7 and we always go to High Road Scholars. (https://www.highroadscholars.com/register).
They are an indigenous and multicultural arts & nature camp run by this wonderful Palestinian teacher. What we love about them is that they bring in a rotating suite of experts artisans from different cultures and actually pay them well, and help them translate their expertise to kids. We’ve done like indigenous herbalism and japanese flower arranging and iranian cooking and a ton of stuff.
They take ages 4-15ish– they do some age mixing but also have different teachers dedicated to the little ones.
The Berkeley High Track Camp is $250 per week of long half days from June 8-12 for 6th to 9th graders. https://bhsxctf.com/bhs-xctf-summer-camp-2026/ 9 am to 1 pm